The Complete Creo to JT Conversion Guide

August 05, 2025

General Information

This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database. It shows how to convert Creo to JT, if you'd like to know more about the formats, please check out the following links:

Converting and Optimizing Creo Files to JT

RapidPipeline can import Creo files, but currently doesn't support exporting to JT format yet.

If you specifically need JT export functionality for your workflow, please feel free to get in touch with us - we'd be happy to discuss your requirements and potential timeline for adding this export capability.

If you need, you can import JT files and convert them to any of these 8 formats: FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STL, USD, USDZ, and VRM.

In the meantime, you can explore other options on the 3D Formats Knowledge Database, which might serve as suitable alternatives for your workflow depending on your target applications and use cases.

What are Creo and JT files commonly used for?

The Creo file is a format mostly used for Advanced parametric 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software for mechanical engineering and product development.
The JT file is a format mostly used for lightweight 3D visualization and collaboration.

call to action

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Comparison of Features Supported by Creo and JT

FeatureSupported by CreoSupported by JT
Morph TargetsNoNo
Rigid AnimationsYesPartial0
Skinned AnimationsNoNo
AnimationsYesPartial1
Free-Form SurfacesYesYes
Geometry CompressionNoYes
Quad MeshesYesYes
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsPartial2No
Transparent MaterialsYesYes
Vertex ColorsPartial3Yes
MaterialsYesYes
Scene CompositionYesYes
Hierarchical Scene GraphYesYes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatPartial4Yes
Embedded TexturesPartial5Partial6
Multiple UV ChannelsPartial7Partial8
Normal MappingNoPartial9
Procedural TexturesNoNo
Texture CompressionNoPartial10
Texture TransformsPartial11Partial12
TexturingPartial13Yes

0 - Basic rigid body animation for design review
1 - Simple animation support for assembly operations
2 - Basic PBR material support through appearance properties and rendering capabilities, but not as advanced as dedicated rendering software.
3 - Limited vertex color support, mainly through part coloring and display properties rather than per-vertex color data.
4 - Creo uses proprietary file formats but supports extensive import/export of industry-standard formats like STEP, IGES, and others for interoperability.
5 - Textures can be included with appearances but with limited embedding capabilities compared to graphics-focused formats.
6 - Textures can be embedded for self-contained files
7 - Limited multi-UV support, mainly through basic material and appearance assignments rather than complex UV mapping workflows.
8 - Limited multi-texturing capabilities
9 - Basic normal mapping for enhanced visualization
10 - Efficient compression for visualization
11 - Basic texture mapping capabilities through appearance properties, but not as advanced as dedicated 3D graphics applications.
12 - Basic texture transformation support
13 - Limited texture support primarily through appearance and material properties for visualization purposes, not extensively used in typical engineering workflows.

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Limitations of Creo Files to JT Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting Creo files to JT format:

Creo Feature (not supported by JT)Limitation Details
PBR Materials

PBR Materials Support:

Creo: Partial support | JT: No support

PBR Materials illustratedlack of support for PBR Materials illustrated

Creo Notes:

Basic PBR material support through appearance properties and rendering capabilities, but not as advanced as dedicated rendering software.

Impact:

PBR materials enable Physically-Based-Rendering (PBR) for a standardized, photorealistic look of rendered images. PBR uses concepts like metallic-roughness or specular-glossiness properties and a microfacet-based modeling of the surface, using a concept called BRDF (Bi-Directional Reflectance Distribution Function). In this example, PBR materials are used to achieve realistic looking plastic and metal materials. Without support for PBR materials, only basic colors and shading can be used (for example, based on more simple shading models, such as the Blinn/Phong model).

Animations

Animations Support:

Creo: Full support | JT: Partial support

Animations illustratedlack of support for Animations illustrated

JT Notes:

Simple animation support for assembly operations

Impact:

Animations are an important part of many interactive 3D assets, for example in real-time rendering (including games, XR training, assembly instructions, product demos, and other use cases). There are various kinds of animations that can be used on 3D models. In this example model, a rigid animation is used to make the gears spin. Without support for this feature, in this example, the gears won't move.

Rigid Animations

Rigid Animations Support:

Creo: Full support | JT: Partial support

Rigid Animations illustratedlack of support for Rigid Animations illustrated

JT Notes:

Basic rigid body animation for design review

Impact:

Rigid Animations are typically used to animate mechanical parts. In this example, the door of this 3D model of a microwave can be interactively opened or closed, using a rigid animation that gradually changes the 3D transformation of the door. Without support for this feature, in this example, the door will just stay in place and won't move.

What's the best way to get Creo files into my 3D applications, and are there alternatives to using JT?

Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to Creo and JT files - the conversion guide above provides a rough first idea about that. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to even automate the process for thousands or even millions of files.

Especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated tools and expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).

If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.

Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.

To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Meet the Author

author image

3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

RapidPipeline lets you convert, optimize and prepare your 3D models, easily.
Try it today, or meet our human 3D experts. The Best-in-Class Tools for Your 3D Processing Jobs